Meet Loren
Meet Loren
We are thrilled to introduce Loren, one of our 2023 Independent School Tuition Scholars! Loren increased her ISEE score by 18.5%, earning her a spot in the 93rd percentile overall.
Loren has a passion for learning, especially subjects related to science. She also has an interest in athletics, namely cross country and swimming. In fact, Loren is certified in scuba diving, and has had the opportunity to explore bodies of water across the world! Loren also loves to write creatively, and her 3 younger sisters have provided her with many opportunities to practice her writing over the years.
Both Loren and her father, Jim, note that service is especially important to her. Their family takes a yearly trip to Sierra Leone to assist a nonprofit that supports children with special needs, and Loren has been sponsoring a young girl with cerebral palsy for many years. Because of this, the service opportunities presented by the new school she’ll be attending is something that she is eagerly anticipating.
Preparation
Loren explains that Test Innovators helped her to identify and focus on her weakest points throughout the preparation process, which led to her improvement. Practice tests were the foundation of Loren’s practice—they helped her feel knowledgeable and confident on test day.
Loren reviewed essential concepts tested on the ISEE and familiarized herself with key testing strategies, which helped her remain calm, manage her time appropriately, and answer questions to the best of her ability on test day. Loren mentions that the most important thing to her throughout the process was working hard and trying her best. Regardless of the outcome, she knew she would be satisfied as long as she practiced as much as she could!
Advice for Students
Loren encourages other students to remember that their test scores do not define who they are. She shares that she wasn’t satisfied with an initially low score, and that it briefly affected her confidence when preparing to take the test again. She was able to remind herself that, while the process can be demanding, the result is worth it when students give it their all. “You’ll be glad when you do your best,” she says, “Because it’ll pay off later on when you get a better score.”
Advice for Parents
Jim, Loren’s dad, advises families to start preparing as early as possible. He comments on the fact that applying to private schools can sometimes be more complicated than college admissions, so it serves both the student and the parent well to get started as soon as they are able. He also says to “Let the kid make the choice… This is one of the first major decisions you, as a kid, are going to get to make.” With the impact that this choice can have on the next phase of a child’s life, it can be essential to keep them involved in the decision making process.
New School
Loren will be attending Convent of the Sacred Heart in New York City as a 9th grader this fall. She is especially excited to study abroad her sophomore year and participate in service activities that benefit sister Sacred Heart schools across the world. She will continue to pursue her interests throughout this next chapter of her life, both academically and personally. We wish Loren the absolute best!
Test Innovators is Here to Help
Test Innovators is dedicated to helping students get into their top-choice schools. We help students get ready for the SSAT and ISEE, so that they can do their best on test day. Our practice platform provides each student with a personalized experience, so that they can target the areas that need improvement and achieve their target scores.
Test Innovators also supports students and families with the other aspects of the admissions process to independent and private schools. Our Admissions Assist courses guide families through each step of the admissions process, from researching schools to navigating the waitlist and everything in between.
